News Tamil Nadu

Dravidian Model: Sewage-Contaminated Drinking Water Kills Three, Including Child In Trichy, Residents Blame Civic Negligence

April 21, 2025
The Commune

In a deeply distressing incident that has shaken the Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) Corporation in Tamil Nadu, more than 30 residents have been admitted to the hospital following the consumption of drinking water reportedly contaminated with sewage. Tragically, two individuals, including a four-year-old girl, have lost their lives.

According to reports, multiple residents of Panickan Street and Minnappan Street, including a young girl, have recently fallen sick, showing symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting. It is believed that the girl’s family initially turned to traditional treatments, but her condition worsened and sadly led to her death.

The incident has sparked widespread anger among residents, who are blaming municipal negligence for the tragedy. Locals claim that they had previously raised concerns about potential sewage contamination in the drinking water but allege that these warnings were repeatedly ignored by the civic authorities.

Trichy Corporation Commissioner V. Saravanan confirmed that a thorough inspection of the primary drinking water pipeline in Woraiyur is currently underway. He also announced that special health camps will be organized on Sunday to address community concerns.

In addition to water contamination, officials are also looking into the possibility that food served during recent festival celebrations may have contributed to the outbreak of illness. The Food Safety Department has been called in to conduct a detailed investigation. Meanwhile, clean drinking water is being distributed to the affected areas in wards 8 and 10 via tanker trucks until further notice.

Reacting strongly to the incident, former BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai criticized the ruling DMK party through a statement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. He expressed shock over the loss of lives, particularly the death of the child in Uraiyur, a locality under the Trichy Corporation. He condemned the authorities for their inaction despite repeated public complaints about contaminated water. He said, “It is truly shocking that three lives, including that of a four-year-old girl, have been lost due to sewage-contaminated drinking water supplied by the Corporation in Uraiyur, under the Trichy Corporation.  Many others are reportedly undergoing treatment in hospitals. Residents have been complaining for days about sewage mixing with the drinking water, yet no one, neither the council member nor Corporation officials have taken any action. The DMK government’s ongoing pattern of covering up such incidents without action against the wrongdoers continues.”

Annamalai also referenced a similar tragedy in Pallavaram, Chennai, accusing the DMK-led government of concealing facts and failing to release test results at that time as well. He said, “In Pallavaram, Chennai, three lives were lost due to sewage contamination in the drinking water. Even then, the DMK government denied any contamination of sewage mixed in drinking water and also failed to release the test reports. Even now, the same narrative is being presented. Has the public life become so cheap to you?”

Then strongly criticized the DMK government, stating, “This incompetent DMK administration model, which is unable to provide even the most basic necessity clean drinking water to the public must stop spreading lying and immediately provide appropriate relief to the families of the deceased. Those currently undergoing treatment must receive proper medical care. Medical camps should be set up without delay in the affected areas, and testing must be conducted. I also urge to take adequate measures to ensure such tragic incidents do not happen again.”

(With Inputs From Times Of India)

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.